Published Wednesday 11 January 2017 at 14:00
A number of bus services that were lost following the closure of Darwen Coach Services, are to be reinstated.
From Monday, January 16, Blackburn Private Hire will take on the number 3 bus route to Sunny Bower via Little Harwood. The company will also take on the Wensley Fold / Beardwood / Lammack (10) and the Higher Croft services (12A/12C).
Moving People will take over the Blackburn – Darwen service (33) from Monday, January 30 and will operate via Royal Blackburn Hospital, Blackamoor, Lower Darwen, Chapels and Hoddlesden.
Other companies have registered their interest in taking on Darwen Town and rural minibus services and it is hoped that these will be confirmed very shortly.
After Darwen Coach Services ceased trading on December 16 last year, Blackburn with Darwen Council took immediate steps to ensure that statutory school routes were maintained.
The Council then began discussions with local bus companies about re-registering routes previously withdrawn.
The Executive Member for Regeneration at Blackburn with Darwen Council, Councillor Phil Riley said:
Since the closure of Darwen Coaches we have been in ongoing discussions with local companies to see if they would take over those services, which I know are a lifeline to many people in our community.
I am pleased to say that several local companies are interested in taking on these routes and I hope that in the near future most of the routes that were lost will be covered.